HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 4
By Clemmons
A RESOLUTION to honor and congratulate David Poile upon his induction into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.
WHEREAS, it is fitting that the members of this General Assembly should pay homage to a gentleman who has helped raise the profile and increase the popularity of hockey to unprecedented levels in the United States; and
WHEREAS, one of the most successful and influential executives in the history of professional sports, David Poile is now engaged in his thirty-seventh season as a general manager in the National Hockey League (NHL) and his twenty-first season with the Nashville
Predators as the organization's first and only general manager; and
WHEREAS, during the 2017-2018 season, David Poile became the winningest and the longest-tenured general manager in NHL history, and he has led his teams to twenty-four playoff and two Stanley Cup Final appearances; and
WHEREAS, he was honored as NHL General Manager of the Year in 2017, after leading the Predators to their first Stanley Cup Final; and
WHEREAS, a "builder, trailblazer, and patriot," Mr. Poile has also given generously of his time and expertise to elevate hockey in the United States at both the NHL and international levels; and
WHEREAS, during his NHL tenure, the number of American players has grown exponentially, from a mere handful decades ago to more than twenty-five percent of the league today, including several young superstars; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Poile has been actively involved in developing the popularity of hockey in nontraditional American markets; his success in this effort is exemplified by the sell-out crowd
HJR0004 000716 -1- in Nashville for his induction into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, an unimaginable feat a generation ago; and
WHEREAS, David Poile is also a devoted proponent of USA Hockey, serving as either general manager or associate general manager of U.S. international teams since 1998; and
WHEREAS, he served astutely as general manager of the United States Olympic Men's
Hockey Team for the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi and as associate general manager for the
2010 United States Olympic Men's Hockey Team that collected the silver medal in Vancouver; and
WHEREAS, David Poile received the Lester Patrick Award in 2001 in recognition of contributions to hockey in the United States; this award was also conferred upon his father, the late Bud Poile, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame who served as general manager of two
NHL expansion franchises; and
WHEREAS, his hockey acumen and great influence are evidenced by his membership on the selection committee for Hockey Hall of Fame, into which he will surely be inducted himself someday; and
WHEREAS, while continuing his labors to benefit USA Hockey, Mr. Poile has expressed his goal of making the United States the leading producer of hockey players in the world; we are certain he will eventually accomplish this worthy goal with the same expertise, professionalism, innovation, and perseverance with which he built the Nashville Predators into Stanley Cup contenders; and
WHEREAS, David Poile has attained the very pinnacle of U.S. hockey, and he should be recognized on this special occasion; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED
ELEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE SENATE
CONCURRING, that we hereby honor and congratulate David Poile upon his induction into the
U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, thank him for his many contributions to hockey at all levels in the
United States, and extend to him our best wishes for every future success.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an appropriate copy of this resolution be prepared for presentation with this final clause omitted from such copy. HJR0004 000716 -2-